Project Update

Last updated on December 4, 2014. Please refer to the Current Technical Plan for information about the expected release dates of exposure documents and final standards.

(Updated sections are indicated with an asterisk *)

This project update summarizes the project activities and decisions of the IASB and the FASB (Boards). It was prepared by the staff and is for the information and convenience of their constituents. All decisions of the Boards are tentative, may change at future Board meetings, and do not change current accounting and reporting requirements. Decisions of the Boards become final only after extensive due process.

*Project Objective and Background

This project addresses issues related to hedge accounting for financial instruments and non-financial items. The objective of this project is to make targeted improvements to the hedge accounting model based on the feedback received from preparers, auditors, users and other stakeholders. The Board will consider opportunities to align with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments.

Click here for the project objective and background information on the overall Accounting for Financial Instruments project.

Due Process Documents

On February 9, 2011, the FASB issued a Discussion Paper—Invitation to Comment—Selected Issues about Hedge Accounting to solicit input on the IASB’s Exposure Draft, Hedge Accounting. The comment period ended on April 25, 2011.

On May 26, 2010, the FASB issued one comprehensive proposed Accounting Standards Update, Accounting for Financial Instruments and Revisions to the Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—Financial Instruments (Topic 825) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). The comment period ended on September 30, 2010.

IASB Due Process Documents

Click here to access the IASB's hedge accounting project page for more information about the IASB’s deliberations.

*Decisions Reached at the Last Meeting

The staff presented its research project on hedge accounting at the agenda prioritization meeting. The purpose of the meeting was for the Board to decide on (1) whether to move this project to its technical agenda and (2) which topics should be included in the project scope.

The Board decided to add the Accounting for Financial Instruments—Hedging project to its technical agenda. Based on this decision, the Board decided to include the following preliminary list of topics in the project scope:

Hedge effectiveness requirements

Component hedging:

Nonfinancial items

Financial instruments

Potential elimination of the shortcut and critical terms match methods

Voluntary dedesignations of hedging relationships

Recording of ineffectiveness for cash flow underhedges

Benchmark interest rates

Simplifying hedge documentation requirements

Presentation and disclosure of hedging instruments, hedged items, and ineffectiveness.

*Tentative Board Decisions Reached to Date

*Next Steps

The Board will begin deliberations on the topics included within the scope of the project.

*Board/Other Public Meeting Dates—Current

The Board meeting minutes are provided for the information and convenience of constituents who want to follow the Board’s deliberations. All of the conclusions reported are tentative and may be changed at future Board meetings. Decisions become final only after a formal written ballot to issue a final standard.

Board Meeting—Discussions about feedback received on the hedge accounting portion of the Board’s May 2010 proposed Accounting Standards Update. The Board also discussed their preferences regarding the approach in carrying out the hedge accounting project.

January 29, 2014

Board Meeting—Decision to perform research on the scope of the hedge accounting phase of the project

May 2, 2012

Education Session—Discussions about the major themes that emerged through outreach efforts with financial statement users regarding derivatives and hedge accounting.

November 30, 2011

Education Session—Discussions about the IASB’s hedge accounting model, presented by the IASB staff. Click here for the slides used in the IASB’s presentation.

August 24, 2011

Board Meeting—Discussions about the comments received on the Invitation to Comment, Selected Issues about Hedge Accounting

March 16, 2011

Joint Board Meeting—Discussions about the outreach and comment letter summaries on the IASB’s Exposure Draft.

Click here for minutes of public meetings on the accounting for financial instruments project that were held related to the issuance of the May 2010 proposed Update on financial instruments.